Developing a Good Multicultural Library Collection

Step One:
Define multicultural: of, relating to, reflecting, or adapted to diverse cultures.

Step Two:
Research and evaluate the community that your collection will be serving

Step Three:
Assess the multicultural collection that your library already contains and determine what might be needed.

Step Four:
Develop a plan and goals for implementing your new collection.

Step Five:
Train and educate yourself (and any library aids) so that the collection can be developed and used properly.

Step Six:
Start buying!

Steps 2-6 suggested by the Library and Archives Multicultural Toolkit of Canada website http://www.collectionscanada/mulicultural

Good Sources for Finding Print and Non-Print Multicultural Materials:

  1. Connecting Cultures: A Guide to Multicultural Literature for Children by Rebecca L. Thomas
  2. Guide to Celebration and Holidays Around the World: The Best Books, Media, and Multicultural Learning Activities by Kathryn L. Matthew and Joy L. Lowe
  3. Venture into Cultures: A Resource Book of Multicultural Materials and Programs by Carla D. Hayden (editor).
  4. Ethnic American Minorities: A Guide to Media and Materials by Harry A. Johnson (editor).
  5. Using Multicultural Young Adult Literature by Carlena Haney
    (Grades 6-12) $18.95
  6. Educators Guide To Free Multicultural Materials by Educators Progress Service
Inc - Magazine Subscription - One issue / 12 months, $52.60
  1. http://teachingtolerance.org -(Great place to sign up for FREE materials about diversity, multiculturalism, tolerance, etc.)
  2. http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/index.html -(Good site for accessing lesson plans and activities)
  3. http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/sites1.html
  4. http://www.collectionscanada.ca.multicultural –(Good site to help start a multicultural library collection